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This morning a small cordon, guarded by two officers, prevented traffic leaving from the back of the street - though pedestrians were allowed through.

Residents said the road was typically quiet and the incident forced parents to lead their children past the sight of the cordon on their way to school.

The surrounding Hillside and Page Moss community has experienced problems with lower level trouble over recent years, with the area set to be covered by new powers targeting scrambler bikers and anti-social yobs from next week.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Belton Road is also the scene of a previous shooting, though that was back in 2012.

An alleyway that once offered access into the back of the cul-de-sac has been blocked off, meaning the gun-wielding thug behind the attack can only have fled via Parbrook Road.

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Inquiries today led police to issue an updated appeal in which they urged anyone who saw three individuals, a dark coloured car and a motorbike near the scene.

Local Policing Inspector Phil Mullally called on anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV from the area to contact the force.

In a bid to reassure those living near the attack, he confirmed it was believed to have been “isolated and targeted”.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

He added: “People in the area will see an increased police presence as investigating officers go house-to-house and look to gather CCTV and forensic evidence.

“In the longer term we will certainly be deploying additional resources in and around that location in the coming days to reassure and engage with the community.”

Insp Mullally said the wider area had also been identified as a priority area for local policing, with “co-ordinated activities” to tackle crime planned for the coming weeks.

*Anyone with information in relation to gun crime is asked to contact Merseyside Police’s gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also contact the force on Twitter (@MerPolCC), quoting reference 1061 of April 10.